Hi, I decided to refresh the brake fluid on my 2020 V85TT. However I can’t get the FRONT brake lever to firm up. Fluid pumps through clear in both calipers, no bubbles.
Does anyone have any ideas / tips? I did notice there seems to be a bleed nipple by the master cylinder, I might try that next but not sure how much help it’ll be.
In days of yore ™ on other bikes I’ve sometimes employed the syringe-reverse-bleed so I might try that too.
I just thought a simple fluid refresh would be no issue (Just pumping new fluid through without draining down the system).
Have you tried a vacuum bleeder? Plus the old trick of putting a bungee on the lever overnight might work (you basically lash the lever back to the bar…it allows small air bubbles to rise back up into the fluid reservoir).
I’d try the bleed nipple near the master cylinder if you’ve bled the ones at the calipers as the next step. The Ducati 999 has a similar arrangement and was the first time that I came across an additional bleed point. As soon as we bled it there we got pressure.
Once you’ve got as much air out as you can, pump the lever hard a dozen times and tie it to the bars using a strap or something. Leave it overnight with the bike on the side stand and the bats turned so that the master cylinder is at the highest point. You’ll be surprised how this simple technique manages to get the last stubborn bubbles out.
Having said all that, I use a vacuum bleeder running off my compressor initially, then bleed any last dregs if air out by traditional bleeding. I always finish as described above and end up with a rock solid compression.
I had the rear brake travel more than it should. The answer was that the abs unit needs bleeding. I believe only a shop can do that so far. I tried to bleed it myself, but still no go.
I have a Gunson vacuum pump but every time I use it I find it sucks a load of air in via the threads on the bleed nipple so i cannot see when the bubbles are all out of the system.
What is the trick to avoid the bubbles?
My back brake is useless the worst ive had in 40 years. I mentioned it to the dealer at its first service and i got the usual they are all like that sir. BS. Its made me want to swop dealer for servicing. I tried to bleed and even replaced the pads incase of contamination.Still useless not syre how to bleed the abs unit anybody got any tips?
I have had the same issue and I am pretty sure that the problem is from the ABS system needing bleeding too. To do that I will need the diagnostic module that dealers use (or the equivalent).
Looking at videos of a Triumph being bled and having the same issue they had to do a normal bleed, set the diagnostic tool to do an ABS bleed twice and then finish off with a normal bleed. Once I have got hold of the diagnostic tool and have sorted the brakes out (or not) I will report back.
I’m told you can get a similar action as the diag tool by taking it for a ride and forcing the ABS pump to work; lock up the brakes ( or at least engage the ABS, which stops you locking up the brakes. You know what I mean ). That bleeds the static fluid in the ABS circuit.
So bleed normally, lock up the brakes, then bleed again to remove the air you’ve now flushed from the ABS circuit.
Oh, and I should say, it flushes the old fluid out, too. Otherwise, the stuff left in the ABS circuit stays as the old fluid. You want that fresh fluid everywhere.
I have tried the ABS then bleed trick and scared the hell out of a cyclist. Left the pedal down overnight and it did bleed a little air out. This gave a better pedal and more feel. I think it still could be better and i will try the pedal trick again.
